Average Taunton property tax bill to go up $236

TAUNTON — The Taunton City Council voted Tuesday night on a tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year that will be most favorable to residential property owners.

It was the sixth year in a row the council opted for the maximum-allowed shift that proportionally favors residential over commercial owners.

Despite the 7-2 vote in favor of the 1.75 shift, the average single-family homeowner in Taunton will still see a $236 increase in property taxes in 2018 compared to fiscal 2017, according to city Assessor Richard Conti, who narrated a video-slide presentation inside council chambers.

Conti noted that the year-over-year escalation in assessed values for residential properties— including condominiums and multi-family homes — has been "very strong."

The average value of a single-family home in Taunton, he said, has jumped nearly 7 percent for FY18 as compared to a 4.1 percent increase for fiscal year 2017, up from $235,976 to $250,983.

For commercial and industrial property the average assessed value increased much less dramatically, from $1.02 million to $1.03 million.

Those properties with the highest assessed values include the Silver City Galleria mall and buildings located in the city's two industrial parks.

In contrast to the hike in residential property values, the increase assessed value for commercial and industrial will be just 0.4 percent.

The same two councilors, Donald Cleary and Jeanne Quinn, for the second year in a row cast the only dissenting votes.

Quinn said the 1.75 shift is "not extreme" in terms of the percentage levy on business owners.

But she cautioned that it could give the impression to new businesses that Taunton is to some extent less business-friendly than other municipalities.

"It's a perception thing," Quinn said.

Cleary was blunter, saying that "tax-wise, we have done nothing to make Taunton attractive to businesses."

He added, "It's hard to keep business-friendly when you keep (the shift) at 1.75."

Also speaking in support of divvying up the tax burden in a way more favorable to business owners were Kerrie Babin, president and CEO of Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce, and Colleen Simmons, director and manager of Taunton Business District and Downtown Taunton Foundation.

Jose Bejarano, owner of Tux Towne and J. Bejarano Men's Fine Clothing and an adjacent building on Main Street, asked the Council to consider not voting for the 1.75 shift.

"I don't want to raise prices, and I do have some vacancies now, so I would ask that you please consider it," Bejarano said.

Ming Luc, who this past year bought a small building at 65 Main St. formerly occupied by Rainforest Gardens Floral Shop, also spoke during the public input portion of the City Council meeting.

Luc, 43, stated that "a low commercial rate is an incentive" in attracting business tenants.

Wayne Walkden, who later that same evening saw the council vote against renewing his three-year contract as Building Department Superintendent, spoke in support of the 1.75 maximum shift.

"I sympathize with business owners," Walkden said. "But since I built my house five years ago I've seen my taxes go up 10 percent each year."